Loose-leaf binder



Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,429

J. C. DAWSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 15, 1924 f" [927922602 JzwesGiana-J02 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE.

JAMES C. DAWSON, F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ELMA N. DAWSON,OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed December 15, 1924. Serial No. 755,897.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and one of the objects ofthe invention is the provision of new and improved means for attachingthe paper-retaining prongs rigidly in position in their supports;

Another obj ectoi the invention is the pro vision of new and improvedmeans for attaching a book binder assembly or mechanism to a book coverin an eil'ective and sim ple manner.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of a new and improvedloose leai binder assembly or mechanism, together with new and improvedmeans for mounting the same on a book cover, that are simple inconstruction, cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, eliicient inoperation, and that are not likely to become broken or get out of order.1

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in wl1ich Fig.1 is a top plan view 01 the paper holdingmechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the mechanism attached to a book cover;

Fig. 3 is'a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a portion of the book cover showing the meansfor attaching the mechanism thereto;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of a portion of one of the toggle plates,showing the paper holding prong in position thereon;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, with the prong in uprightposition, parts broken away Fig. Sis a perspective view of the paperholding prong; and

Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the key.

In the assembling of paper holding mechanism on book covers it isdesirable that the mechanism be constructed to form 'a selfcontainedunitary device and to provide simple means for attaching the same to abook cover whereby the user may readily disassemble the parts forreplacement or repairs and the like, and for the purpose of changing thestyle or type of book covers when necessary or desirable. For these andother obvious reasons suitable means have been provided foraccomplishing these. results.

In the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment of theinvention the paper holding unit or mechanism 9 comprises a spring plateor concave member 10 in which is mounted the toggle plates 11 and 12which are held in position by means of inwardly extending flanges 13 and14 on the spring member 10. The toggle plates are held in operativeposition within the concave spring member 10 by suitable means as theU-shaped clips or staples 15 which extend through cooperating slots 16in the meeting edges of the toggle plates 11 and 12 and have their, ends17 bent over on said plates, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawing. The construction thus far described is well known in the artand it is not thought necessary to further describe the same.

The toggle plates 11 and 12 are provided with a plurality of sets ofmating curved paper-holding prongs 24 which, in the position shown inFig. 2, serve to hold the paper within the book, and in the positionshown in Fig. 4, permit the paper to be removed or inserted.

An operating lever 18 is mounted at each end of the mechanism tofacilitate the opening of the prongs. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 thebody portion of each lever is in the form of an upright plate extendingacross the spring plate 10 in spaced relation to its intermediateportion and fulcrumed on its side portions adjacent to the flanges 13and 14. A convex thumb piece 19 extends outwardly from the upper edge ofthe transverse plate and a finger 21 projects inwardly from the loweredge thereof and lies beneath the toggle plates 11 and 12.

When downward pressure is applied on the'thumb piece 19, the lever 18-will rotate counterclockwise (Fig 3) bringing the finger 21 against theunderside of the toggle plates 11 and 12 adjacent to their articulatededges. The lever thus becoming of the first class, fulcrumed on the sideportions of the spring plate 10 and prying upwardly on the toggleplates. The downward pressure of the fulcra on the spring plate tends toflatten the concavity as it is seen in Fig. 4,

moving the flanges 13 and 14 apart and thus relieving the pressureon-the toggle plates and facilitating the rotation of the plates to theposition shown in Fig. 4.

As best shown in that figure, the lower edge t5 of the lever 18 is outof contact with the plate between the points 46 and 47 on the sideportions of the latter, insuring that the toggle bearings will besufliciently near the edges of the plate to enable relatively smallforce to cause the yielding of the plate and with it the opening of theprongs.

The intermediate portion of the edge a5 and the linger 21 are spacedsomewhat widely from the corresponding portion of the plate 10, asindicated at in Figs. 4 and 5, to permit the insertion of a kcy'torholding the mechanism to the book cover.

The operating lever 18 is held in position by inturned flanges 18 on theend of the spring member 10.

Informing attaching lugs on paper holding prongs of loose leaf binders,it has been proposed to provide tangential grooves in the prongs forengaging the toggle plates tor holding the prongs in rigid relationtosaid plates. It is also common practicetostrik, up'a portion of theouter periphery of the prongs reform the lugs so that they extend atright angles to the plane of the prongs. These ways of forming theattaching means for the prongs result in 'wea cening the same at theattaching point, and not infrequently the prongs are broken oil as aresult of these constructions. In order to avoid weakening the prongs informing the attaching lugs 25, these lugs are formed by press the' naterial at right angles to the plane of -'tlie prongs. In other words, thelug is tormeddn the plane of the prong by,what for convenience ofdescription will be terri ied lateral pressure, on the outer portionotthe material constituting the inner end of said prong. The pressingoperation terms the shoulders'26 preferably at each side oi the lugwithout removing any'ot the material *ot said'prong.

The toggle platesare provided with rectangular slots in which the lugs25 of the prongs 24- *are adapted to engage. The shoulders 26 engage theinner tace' of the toggle plates for positioningsaidprongs. Theouterends of the lugs 25"are spreader upset as shownat 27, see Figs. 6' and7, f0r rigidly retaining said lugs in said slots. By formingand-attaching the lugs in the mann'er described above the prong '24 atthe attachi'ng point is I-shape in cross section, and since none otthematerial has been removed it is materially strengthened at this point.This is considered an inrportant feature of the invention since itprovides a paper holding prong that, when in position, is as strong atits'point of attachment as at any oth er 5 point.

The prougsare arranged in pairsopposite each other to'fornra separablering, is usual in such "constructions. The toggle plates will hold theprongsin either-open or closed position, in the usual manner.

If desired, a finishing plate 28 may be secured over the toggle platesfor concealing the same. The plate 28 is more or less resilient and isslightly convex, whereby the inwardly extending flanges 29 may be sprungoutwardly to engage the edges of the spring plate or member 10, as shownin Fig. 4.

The operating levers 18 form end pieces to close the space between theplates 10 and 28 at the ends of the mechanism.

Suitable means are provided for securing the paper holdin 'mechanisminposition within a book cover 31. The cover may be of any suitable formand material, that shown comprising a back '32 and sides 33 and 34.Preferably cooperating loops and eyes or openings are provided ontheback and paper holding mechanism for c nnecting the two together. Asshown on the drawing a separate attaching-plate 35 having loops 36 isemployed. The attaching plate 35, which may be placed on the outer sideof the back in the usual manner, or, it it is desired that the backhavea finished appearance, the plate 35 may be an'dpreferably isconcealed between the laininations of the back as clearly shown in Figs.2 and 3. The loops 36 at each-end'of the plate 35 extend throughsuitable openings 37 in the back 32, and corresponding alined openings38 in the plate 10. The parts are held in assembled relation by a key 39at each end of the paper holding mechanism which is adapted to engagesaid loops. The inner walls of the loops are preferably inclined as at41 to form guides or tapered openings for the keys 39 during theirinsertion. The keys may be tapered to guide them into the loops and areprovided with bentends to facilitate their removal.

Any approved means maybe employed for preventing the accidental removalof the keys 39. Preferably the keys are provided with depressions orlugs43 which are adapted to engage one of the openings 38 in the plate10. *The resiliency of the parts will permit the-withdrawal of the keysby pulling outwardly on the same.

In assembling the mechanism 9 on the 'book'cover 81, the attaching plate35, it it is not concealed within theback 32 is placed on said back withthe attaching lo0ps36 extending inwardly through'said back and throughslots 38 in the plate The keys 39 are insertedone'at'each end of saidmechanism through the opening 20' and throi'igh the loops 36, theinclined ta'eesot the loops guiding the keys and 'not'only'facilitatingtheir insertion but'serving to clamp theparts together. Theengagement-of the lugs 4-3 with the outer slots '38 of the plate'10 willhold thekeys from accidental removal.

By means of this construction the loose leaf binder mechanism may beassembled as a unitary construction that may be readily attached to orremoved from a book cover without removing or disturbing any of theparts of the binder mechanism.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changesin size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination, a book cover comprising aback, a plurality of loops having inclined inner walls extendinginwardly from said back, a loose leaf binder mechanism having a curvedresilient toggle operating plate provided with apertures for receivingsaid loops, and keys for engaging said loops for clamping said back andmechanism together.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair oftoggle members articulated at their adjacent edges, the concaveresilient plate having an opening in its intermediate portion, flangeson the resilient plate pivotally engaging the remote edges of the togglemembers, a back having a loop projecting through the opening in theresilient plate, a key inserted through the loop above the resilientplate and a combined end piece and toggle operating lever extendingtransversely to the resilient plate above the key and fulcrumed at eachside of the key, a thumb piece projecting outwardly from the lever and afinger projecting inwardly from the lever beneath the toggle members.

3. In a device of the class described, a

pair of toggle members articulated at their adjacent edges, a concavespring plate having flanges y1eld ngly engaging the remote edges of thetoggle members, an end piece extending across the spring plate in spacedrelation to its intermediate portion and fulcrumed on its side portions,a projection on the end piece beneath the toggle members and adapted tourge them upwardly when the end piece is rocked, a back beneath thespring plate having a loop extending above it, and a key between thespring plate and the end piece and extending through the loop.

4:. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair oftoggle members articulated at their adjacent edges, aconcave resilientplate having an opening in its intermediate portion, flanges on theresilient plate pivotally engaging the remote edges of the togglemembers, a back having a loop projecting through the opening in theresilient plate, a key inserted through the loop above the resilientplate, an end piece extending transverse to the resilient plate abovethe key and fulcrumed at each side of the key, and means on the endpiece to engage the toggle members.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of toggle membersarticulated at their adjacent edges, a concave spring plate havingflanges yieldingly engaging the remote edges of the toggle members, anend piece extending across the spring plate in spaced relation to itsintermediate portions and fulcrumed on its side portions, a projectionon the end piece beneath the toggle members and adapted to urge themupwardly when the end piece is rocked, a back beneath the spring I plateand means for securing them together including a key extending betweenthe spring plate and the end piece.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES C. DAWSON.

